‘The Bridge’ Cancelled By FX After 2 Seasons

After the first season of The Bridge, some were questioning FX’s decision to proceed with a second season. The cable network is known for giving its shows every possible chance to grow, so it stuck with the remake of the Scandinavian drama for another 13 episodes. The series didn’t improve in the ratings or critical reception, leading to today’s cancellation.

The Bridge, an adaptation of the Scandi series Bron about a bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden, starred Diane Kruger as El Paso PD Sonya Cross and Damien Bichir as Marco Ruiz her counterpart from the Chihuahua State Police, who team to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.

The series got off to a strong start on July 10, 2013, debuting to 3.04 million viewers in Live+Same Day, a number that jumped up in Live+3 to 4.64 million viewers to become the network’s biggest launch ever. But by the end of Season 1, the show had lost half of its audience, with the first season finale drawing 1.5 million in L+SD. Still, that first season ranked the No. 1 new scripted cable series of the summer in key demos.

Season 2 got on where Season 1 left off, with the season opener pulling in 1.5 million viewers in L+SD. Viewership declined pretty steadily to a 1.0 million by the last two episodes. With the L+3 bump, the Season 2 and now series finale, which aired October 1, drew 1.98 million viewers and 767,000 in the 18-49 demo.

The second season of The Bridge was helmed by one of the series’ original co-developer/co-showrunners, Elwood Reid as Meredith Stiehm departed after Season 1 to return to Homeland. This season the show also departed from the serial killer plot that drove Season 1.

61 Comments

Yolanda • on Oct 21, 2014 12:04 pm

Nooo! I know the ratings were pretty weak but it still sucks. Could Netflix, Amazon or Yahoo save it? Netflix gave “The Killing” six episodes final season, could it do the same for “The Bridge” fans? Please, pretty please. I want this show to have a proper conclusion.

Todd • on Oct 21, 2014 12:30 pm

It did have a decent conclusion which is better than most shows do. A lot of the stories were wrapped in the finale.

nt • on Oct 21, 2014 12:05 pm

this is such a shame. by far one of the best shows on tv. please netflix pick up the ball and run

Lindsay • on Oct 21, 2014 12:09 pm

Worst. News. Ever. Loved this show!

franco • on Oct 21, 2014 12:14 pm

Dammit!

IRON WILL • on Oct 21, 2014 12:15 pm

Good riddance! Now people know how myself among MANY OTHER loyal viewers felt after’Lights-Out’ got the sx…

Seriously though, this show was much too procedural for FX’s standards.

Between the annoying tough-female cop and the ethnicity pandering hispanic partner, this deserved to be USA…or CBS.

Puddles O. Tears • on Oct 21, 2014 3:35 pm

The mere mention mention of Lights Out makes me cry. What a great show. Still reeling from the loss.

RON • on Oct 22, 2014 3:59 am

I like how you have obviously never watched this show for maybe more than 15 minutes, and how you also seem to know nothing whatsoever about television. Procedural as a genre of TV refers to television where the main plot of an episode is introduced, worked, and solved by the end of every episode. This show OBVIOUSLY was not like that in any way. This was a slow burner if ever there was one. If it had been “procedural”, It might have been a hit like the million other. Not many people like having to devote full attention to anything. This show was great. Also, I think you mean Lights Out was a show that deserved to be on CBS, considering how much of a cliche soap opera it was.

Frank Escobar • on Oct 21, 2014 12:15 pm

This is a NETFLIX SURE SHOT!… without dating myself…let The BRIDGE do for Netflix what shows like Walker, Texas Ranger did for CBS…made it #1 in its time slot for its whole run!

Eric • on Oct 21, 2014 12:18 pm

Netflix needs to pick up this show! The Bridge with Kruger and Bechir is an acting Masterclass!

Toby • on Oct 22, 2014 6:36 am

Agree totally!!

steve itkin • on Oct 21, 2014 12:18 pm

Great show! Bad decision.

John Wick IV • on Oct 21, 2014 12:21 pm

Landgraf pontificates so much about how great they’re doing that I expect more scrutiny put on FX’s rather meager fortunes. Tyrant will be next. While the lowbrow AHS does numbers, if you look closely FX doesn’t have much to crow about. I find it a dull venue.

Hahaha, blaming another show for your fave getting canceled might be some of the most pathetic trolling out there. Try harder, Iron Will.

As for the article, I’d argue with the “no critical praise” thing. Granted, everyone wasn’t lined up to drool all over it like the similarly ratings-challenged “Orphan Black”, but it drew some good words from respected critics.

I do wish either these networks would start announcing cancellations in advance or showrunners of low-rated shows would stop creating cliffhangers for their season-enders, just in case (see Dallas, Longmire, etc).

Teri Reid • on Oct 21, 2014 2:32 pm

Terrific acting and writing; I will miss it. Teri

John • on Oct 21, 2014 2:50 pm

Good riddance. The show was unwatchably grim the first year, but at least it had a newish character in an asbergery female detective. The second year they dropped that, and Krueger just had an inexplicable German accent.

peter • on Oct 24, 2014 12:36 pm

German accent? really did you watch the show

jason • on Oct 21, 2014 3:10 pm

I loved this show I don’t have Netflix but I would get it just for this show

Andi • on Oct 21, 2014 3:24 pm

Seriously. They leave on Tyrant and take off The Bridge ?

Anonymous • on Oct 21, 2014 4:06 pm

What a crock!!! I am VERY upset! I am boycotting FX, Netflix please make big money by taking on the Bridge!!

NMH • on Oct 21, 2014 4:09 pm

What a Crock! No way….. I am shocked and just can’t believe it.

Carl • on Oct 21, 2014 5:23 pm

Enough will all the naive comments hoping another network picks it up. It didn’t just air on FX, FX Productions was also the studio behind it. They aren’t going to ship it off to a competitor like Netflix or TNT. This isn’t like when Damages moved to DirecTV’s Audience Network. Sony owned Damages and could do with it as they pleased once FX let it go.

Terry Truth • on Oct 21, 2014 10:36 pm

Actually…FX do not own the series.
Shine do.

Better check your facts.

uhrneemccracken • on Oct 23, 2014 8:45 am

I’m well aware of the facts, Terry. FX was the studio, Shine was the distributor and owns the original format . It ain’t showing up on another outlet without FX signing off on it.

don't cancel "the bridge" • on Oct 21, 2014 8:03 pm

I love the show, I want it back! Please, please, bring it back. There is nothing good on time and it was funny, serious, so please being it back!

C&J • on Oct 21, 2014 8:28 pm

WTF so sad/mad that it’s being cancelled,
We watched every episode, Hopefully it gets picked up on another network,

writeras • on Oct 21, 2014 8:53 pm

I love this show, but, because I work evenings, had to watch it on demand a day or two after its original air date. Does this mean I don’t count?

So angry • on Oct 21, 2014 10:44 pm

Figures they would get rid of this magnificent show! They always keep the shitty shows and kick out the best. -__-

Tom • on Oct 22, 2014 4:08 am

Just the fact that FX has cancelled ANYTHING in their current lineup that isn’t TYRANT is maybe the most insulting act I have ever witnessed from a network. I was there for the cancellation of Carnivale, Deadwood, Terriers, Rubicon, etc. And for some reason, this just hurts the worst. It isn’t even that it was my favorite show on TV or anything, Far from it. I enjoyed it but was never obsessed with it. I did like it though. Just the simple fact that they renew one of the absolute worst cable dramas I have seen in the past few years and they cancel a decent one. Seriously, Have they looked at the reviews for Tyrant? At least The Bridge has a decent level of acclaim.

jpr • on Oct 22, 2014 9:40 am

This sucks….. this was the first show my wife and I looked forwarded to watching, together, every week. . . and we have being married almost 40 years.